Kawerau Library and Museum Celebrate Women

Kawerau District Library and Museum hosted a week of lunchtime events leading up to International Women’s Day on 8 March.

The theme for this year was #EachforEqual. 

On Monday, we made greeting cards for special women in our lives with Julie Collins. 

On Tuesday, the library screened the inspirational movie Hidden Figures, the story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space programme, while having to deal with racial and gender discrimination at work.

Wednesday’s event was a spoken word session of stories and poems celebrating women, with the library’s resident writer’s group, Write on Kawerau.

A panel discussion on Thursday featured six women reflecting on their diverse vocations. A police sergeant, an academic, a stay-at-home mum, a schoolteacher, a personal trainer and a business woman each inspired us. Equally touching were the supportive responses from the audience.

Friday was pamper day with Huong, the museum technician delivering TLC for Working Women's Hands, a free nail buff and polish.

The Gaylene Preston documentary, War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us was also shown featuring seven elderly Kiwi women recalling their personal experiences of World War II.

On Saturday, the kids painted portraits of inspirational women and girls.

An equal world is an enabled world and this year’s theme for International Women’s Day encourages us all to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women's achievements.

ABOVE: The panel discussion of women in a variety of vocations was well received by an encouraging audience.

ABOVE: Huong Nguyen offering pampering for working women’s hands.